Hello. I am an amateur, but i love the bass. I finally got to the point where i wanted a 5 string bass. I went into the used instrument store and saw this beauty. But it had the high C string. They told me not to worry, just change out the strings. But in my frantic research i see people having to choose certain types of B strings because the bass is 33" or even having to work on the nut. Really, i dont want to physically alter the bass outside of a string change. If it comes to it, i can just re-select another bass (mine us on layaway) that runs the low B natively. But this bass felt so nice in my hands. Thoughts? Advice?
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Ibanex BTB33 Low B
- Thread starter knownalien
- Start date
If it were me, I would just string it with a low b and go from there. Shouldn't cost much to have the nut cut and if you really like the bass that much I'd go for it. You may need to try a few different strings to get where you want but If a bass feels great it is worth some experimentation. All IMO of course.
You can see if the store will set it up for you with a low B as part of your purchase?
You can see if the store will set it up for you with a low B as part of your purchase?
I have a BTB33 and I converted it to Low B immediately after I got it. Its a fantastic bass and the Low B will sound great. It is lightweight, comfortable to play and no dead spots. I use a D'addario .120 Tapered Low B and it it the best one that I've found. It's no big deal, you will need a tech to open up the slots on the nut to accommodate the larger strings and make sure they get the nut height correct so it will play in tune open and the first fret, that's the key to perfect intonation on the neck. Good luck.
You think the nut will need to be opened up for all strings? I love your advice, but i feel like (should i ever exchange it for another) i am altering a bass that someone else might want to return to the high C, but after the altercations you mentioned, i dont think that'll be possible. I guess i can play it with just different strings, but i am not a good enough player maybe to notice the things you mentioned.
Yes, it is possible. You can go to a slightly smaller string in a nut slot without issue.
- John
For a widely available, easy to find string I use the D'addario Nickel EXL 180 4 string set with an added XLB125T Tapered Low B String. For a stainless string set, the Rotosound RTS_RS665LB is very good too. You can easily find the D'addario and Rotos at Juststrings.com.
If you really want to experiment and dive into custom gauges, Kallium Strings is a good choice. I use the Balanced Tension Hybrid BH-118-5BS set. Link Removed
If you really want to experiment and dive into custom gauges, Kallium Strings is a good choice. I use the Balanced Tension Hybrid BH-118-5BS set. Link Removed
I went to just strings.com. i put in your search criteria. It looked like chinese to me. Any chance you could copy/paste the URL into this thread so i could go directly to the D'arddarios you mentioned including the added B string you?
Hey bud, I don't want to discourage you from making modifications, but I do want to point out that a lot of bassists who are now famous just "stumbled onto" an instrument that was different and it became a part of their sound. Les Claypool is the most obvious example, he started playing 6-string fretted and fretless basses just because Carl Thompson had stuff lying around that nobody wanted.
If you don't have a specific reason to drop to the low B, then consider for a minute just playing it the way it is and making modifications later. Worst case scenario you have to replace the nut and that shouldn't be a big deal. If the bass is a good price then go for it.
Don't feel like you have to do what you're "supposed to do" by playing a BEADG tuning. A tenor 5-string has a great quality to it and you can make it your own.
Just my two cents.
If you don't have a specific reason to drop to the low B, then consider for a minute just playing it the way it is and making modifications later. Worst case scenario you have to replace the nut and that shouldn't be a big deal. If the bass is a good price then go for it.
Don't feel like you have to do what you're "supposed to do" by playing a BEADG tuning. A tenor 5-string has a great quality to it and you can make it your own.
Just my two cents.
Monkey,
Really great point. But yes, I do want to low B to be able to play some of the songs from musicals . .particularly the newer ones.
Really great point. But yes, I do want to low B to be able to play some of the songs from musicals . .particularly the newer ones.
It truly isn't. This is a no brainer mod that will not adversely affect the value or function of your instrument in any way.
@knownalien
don't be discouraged about modding the nut slots. As mentioned above, you can use smaller gauge strings in widened slots just fine. The tension from tuning the string to pitch would make it stay on the bottom of the "U" shaped groove.
Few years ago I had the nut slots of my 6er bass modded so that I could use .045 .065 .085 .105 .130 .175 strings (G2 to F#0 tuning) and later it had no problem when I decided to revert the tuning back to 6 string standard C3 to B0 using .032 .045 .065 .085 .105 .130 strings.
Even if the widened slots were making problems with smaller gauge strings, it shouldn't be that hard to order new replacement nut with the old slot measurements.
don't be discouraged about modding the nut slots. As mentioned above, you can use smaller gauge strings in widened slots just fine. The tension from tuning the string to pitch would make it stay on the bottom of the "U" shaped groove.
Few years ago I had the nut slots of my 6er bass modded so that I could use .045 .065 .085 .105 .130 .175 strings (G2 to F#0 tuning) and later it had no problem when I decided to revert the tuning back to 6 string standard C3 to B0 using .032 .045 .065 .085 .105 .130 strings.
Even if the widened slots were making problems with smaller gauge strings, it shouldn't be that hard to order new replacement nut with the old slot measurements.
The bass has 2 truss rods so it's a breeze to adjust. The pickups are the same as used in the ibanez 6 string bass.
